Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:23:17 -0400 From: Robert Huff <roberthuff@rcn.com> To: Christopher Sean Hilton <chris@vindaloo.com> Cc: FreeBSD Questions <questions@freebsd.org> Subject: Replacing tape changer with USB disk drives. Message-ID: <18519.1013.259797.518537@jerusalem.litteratus.org> In-Reply-To: <F551340C-1A3B-4357-9EC8-2FB2904ECCDD@vindaloo.com> References: <F551340C-1A3B-4357-9EC8-2FB2904ECCDD@vindaloo.com>
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Christopher Sean Hilton writes: > I run FreeBSD 7.0-STABLE on a file server and until recently used a > Tape Changer for backups. I'm considering my options for a new backup > solution. I'm actually thinking of ditching tape and using an > externally attached USB or Firewire disk drive. > > Has anyone gone this route? If so what was your experience? I have been using this for at least a year - USB2 connecting to a PATA drive. The protocol dumps a week's worth on one disk: a full and six incremental backups. I have had no problems with reliability. I /do/ have problems with speed. The fast recorded throughput was aroud 3.5 bytes/second; faster than the SCSI-1 DLT it replaces, but nowhere near the 60 mbytes/second of the USB, (Yes, I know it's "theoretical maximum" ... but even if we halve it and then halve is again, we're still factor-of-4 off the actual performance.) This has resisted serious attempts for remedy, Hardware: no-name disks Addonics Saturn drive cartridge system Acer Labs USB2 add-on controller Robert Huff
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